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When it came time to design the all new EA Falcon, Ford Australia again looked at overseas models. The European Granada/Scorpio and American Taurus were brought to Australia. The two cars had significantly less shoulder room and the Taurus was front wheel drive.
EA Falcon(1988 - 1991)
So Ford decided to build the EA from the ground up.
Early EA prototypes resembled the Scorpio, but the car evolved into the EA we know. The computer aided design prototype was shipped to fashion conscious West Germany, to gauge people’s reactions. If the style won the hearts of the West Germans, it would quickly gain approval here. The EA was displayed with the best of them: a BMW 5 series, an Audi 100 and a Mercedes Benz 190. It was a hit with the Germans, so Ford knew it had the styling right.
The all new Falcon was launched in March 1988 to beat Holden’s bigger VN Commodore. It captured the interest of buyers and the press, and the launch was amazingly successful. But tales began to leak out of Broadmeadows about quality problems. The new hi-tech robot welder had some teething problems, some examples included a brake pedal that stayed on the floor; a metal panel holding the door mountings flexing, causing the doors to shake; and a faulty computer chip, causing trouble in the engine management system. But what the public didn’t know was that most of these problems were discovered and rectified before launch, either in the plant, or by the dealer before the car wound up in the showroom. These troubles should not have occurred, part of the reason they did was because Ford was also working hard on its new Capri.
Other early problems were the front suspension and poor paint. Ford buyers were told there were difficulties and their car would take a little longer, and this approach worked. There were record sales, despite all the bad publicity.
The sleek new Falcon had three six cylinder engines: a 3.2L, 3.9L and 3.9L multi-point. All engines had fuel injection (the 3.2 and 3.9 had the basic single-point system) and they were all overhead cam engines. The 3.9 could out-perform the old 351V8, the 3.2 could not and was dropped in December 1988. Fuel economy was good but unfortunately the Falcon was stuck with a three speed auto, or the standard 5 speed manual.
Front suspension was all new and designed to match that of the state of the art Hondas. The Watts link rear suspension was retained, despite criticism that it should have been independent rear suspension. Power rack and pinion steering was introduced and this brought a much tighter turning circle.
EA Falcon Photos (photos are cropped, click to enlarge)
   
Ford EA Falcon
On Sale: March 1988 - July 1991 (Series II: October 1989)
How do I know it's an EA? Rounded headlights with amber indicators, horizontal thin grille with Ford badge above it, tail lights have horizontal bar separating brake light and indicator. Rear number plate mounted on grey or black & grey plastic, B-pillars are black, C-pillars have air vent, Fairmont Ghia has body-coloured mirrors, GL has black bumpers.
Series II: Body-coloured B-pillars. 30th Anniversary models: Falcon bird badge near front wheels, GL has “swirl” wheel covers and bigger side mouldings. Fairmont has alloy wheels.
Models available:
Falcon:
Falcon GL:
Falcon GLS:
Falcon S:
Fairmont:
Fairmont Ghia:		 ute, van (XF body)
sedan, wagon
ute (XF body)
sedan, wagon
sedan, wagon
sedan, wagon
Option packs/prototypes/limited editions:
Falcon Classic:

SVO Falcon:
Brock SE Falcon:

APV SR3900:		 (Limited Edition) GL sedan with air conditioning, metallic paint, body-coloured bumpers. June 1991.
(Aftermarket) Falcons modified by Mick Webb.
(Aftermarket) Falcon S with body kit, alloy wheels, interior changes, modified suspension. Rosewood or Silver Slate. 500 produced.
(Aftermarket) Suspension pack, full body kit, performance exhaust system, improved interior, tinted windows, wheels and tyres. Available on any EA.
What’s new? New fuel injected engines, redesigned front suspension, two millionth Falcon
Falcon Firsts: First Australian car with 60/40 split fold rear seat, four speed auto (Series II)
Prices at introduction: Falcon GL sedan - $19431, Fairmont Ghia sedan - $30354
Total EAs built: 223612
Transmission: 5 speed manual, 3 speed automatic, 4 speed automatic (Series II)
Engines:
3.2L 6 cyl
Bore and stroke: 92 x 79 mm
Power: 90kW at 4000rpm
Torque: 235Nm at 3250rpm
Overhead camshaft, 2 valves per cylinder
Fuel system: EEC IV fuel injection
Compression ratio: 8.8:1
3.9L 6 cyl
Bore and stroke: 92 x 99 mm
Power: 120kW at 4250rpm
Torque: 311Nm at 3250rpm
Overhead camshaft, 2 valves per cylinder
Fuel system: EEC IV fuel injection
Compression ratio: 8.8:1
3.9L multi-point 6 cyl
Bore and stroke: 93 x 99 mm
Power: 139kW at 4250rpm
Torque: 338Nm at 3500rpm
Overhead camshaft, 2 valves per cylinder
Fuel system: EEC IV fuel injection
Compression ratio: 8.8:1
Fuel consumption: 14.1L/100km (Falcon S 3.9 auto, Wheels magazine)
Performance:
(Falcon S 3.9L multi-point sedan, 5 speed manual):
Top speeds in gears
1st: 57km/h
2nd: 93km/h
3rd: 144km/h
4th: 200km/h
5th: 210km/h
0-100km/h: 8.5 seconds
Standing 400m: 15.8 seconds
Suspension:
Front
Short and long arm, long spindle with single rate coil springs, twin tube telescopic shock absorbers and stabiliser bar
Rear
Sedan - Live axle with Watts linkage telescopic shock absorbers, coil springs and stabiliser bar; Wagon - Rigid axle with leaf springs and telescopic shock absorbers; S sedan - Uprated coil springs and shock absorbers with lower ride height
Brakes:
Front
287mm ventilated discs
Rear
287mm discs
Steering: Power assisted rack and pinion
Wheels:
Falcon GL, Fairmont - 14 x 6 inch JJ steel, optional - 15 x 7 inch JJ alloy, October 1990 - 14 x 6 inch JJ alloy on Fairmont
Falcon S - 15 x 7 inch JJ alloy snowflake
Fairmont Ghia - 15 x 6.5 inch JJ alloy
Tyres:
Falcon GL - P185/75 HR14, optional - P215/65 HR14
Falcon S - P205/65 HR15
Fairmont - P195 HR14, optional - P215/65 HR14, P205/65 HR15
Fairmont Ghia - P205/65 HR15
Dimensions:

Length:
Width:
Height:
Wheelbase:
Front track:
Rear track:
Kerb weight:
Turning circle:
Fuel tank:
Boot space:		 Sedan
4811mm
1857mm
1399mm
2794mm
1546mm
1533mm
1418kg
11m
68 litres
470 litres		 Wagon
5003mm
1483mm
1857mm
2923mm
1546mm
1533mm
1508kg
11.4m
72 litres
1466 litres
Interior dimensions:

Front headroom:
Rear headroom:
Front shoulder room:
Rear shoulder room:
Front hip room:
Rear hip room:
Front legroom:
Rear legroom:		 Sedan
975mm
975mm
1527mm
1515mm
1475mm
1245mm
1080mm
988mm		 Wagon
984mm
1039mm
1527mm
1515mm
1475mm
1245mm
1080mm
988mm
Features (at introduction): Legend

Automatic
Air conditioning
Power steering
Power windows
Power mirrors
Central locking
Radio cassette
Steering adj.
Seat height adj.
Seats
Speedometer
Tachometer
Cruise control
Alloy wheels		 Falcon GL
opt
opt
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X
X
X
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•
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cloth
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X
X
X		 Falcon S
opt
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•
X
X
X
•
•
•
cloth
•
•
X
•		 Fairmont
•
•
•
X
X
X
•
•
•
cloth
•
•
X
X		 Fairmont Ghia
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
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velour
digital
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Awards: 1988 Australian Design Award
Rivals: Holden VL/VN Commodore, Mitsubishi TN/TP/TR Magna, Toyota Lexcen
 
EA Falcon Links (new window)  Related pages

The EA-ED Owners Club Home Page
Polar988 Automotive
The Ford Falcon Modifications Website
EA/EB/ED Falcons
E-Series Fords
FPV: 1988-92 EA/EB Falcon S
Bass Crazy - 1988 Fairmont Ghia
1990 SVO Falcon
gmanea’s EA Falcon
Ed’s EA Falcon
Drive.com.au review: EA/EB wagon
NRMA Car reviews
Carsurvey: Falcon reviews

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Falcon Facts: XF Falcon
Falcon Facts: EB Falcon
 

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The sleek styling proved very popular, but it wasn’t all looks. It was aerodynamic as well, being the first Falcon to make use of wind tunnel testing.
The EA range was simplified to a sedan and wagon. Even so, a ute and van were still available, they were just the old XF design. (In 1989, XF utes were also being sold as Nissans. As part of the deal, Nissan Patrols were sold as Ford Mavericks). Inside the EA, a decent driving position could be had, as the steering was adjustable. Interior space was increased; the umbrella handbrake lived on.
In October 1989, the introduction of the long-awaited four speed auto marked the Series II. Changes included a body-coloured B-pillar, firmer suspension and small interior changes.
To celebrate its 30th anniversary, a special model was released. Based on the GL, it featured new side badges and Ford’s new security system - Tibbe locks with central locking. The Fairmont now got more equipment.
Ford Falcon Facts

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